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The Taraia Object Expedition:

the search for Amelia Earhart’s aircraft

Join us for a world-changing mission to solve the last century's greatest mystery.

Amelia Earhart sitting on the nose of her Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft at Purdue University Airport

Led by Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue is partnering with the Archaeological Legacy Institute for a remarkable joint effort to locate Amelia Earhart’s lost aircraft and help complete the heroic journey she began almost a century ago.

This unprecedented expedition is uncharted territory: filled with adventure, persistence, and the shared goal to honor Amelia Earhart’s legacy at Purdue.

This is the story worth watching.

As part of Purdue University’s pioneering efforts in aeronautical research, PRF funded the “flying laboratory” 10E Electra that Earhart used in her attempt to circumnavigate the globe. In recognition of this contribution, she intended to return the plane to Purdue after the flight.

UPDATES ON THE EXPEDITION

The mission begins.

In October 2026, PRF is joining ALI on an expedition to Nikumaroro Island. The team will investigate the Taraia Object, located in a lagoon, to determine whether it could be a remnant of Amelia Earhart’s plane.